Danielle Ward– Danielle is a professional blogger. She writes frequently about business, Edutech, science and social media.

Regardless of whether an event space has its own character or is a blank slate, you’ll want to decorate it to dress it up, help it fit your theme and match it to the type of event you’re hosting. At the same time, you need to think about your budget and make the preparation process as seamless as possible. To fit these goals, follow these five suggestions for easily maximizing your space on a budget:

Start With the Layout

An event is not all about the decorations – the layout makes an immense difference to the space as well. By playing with the layout of the seating, tables and display areas that you would normally be incorporating into the space, you could improve the event without spending extra money. Since the layout will depend on the venue and the needs of your particular event, go into your space with an open and creative mind.

Consider how the event and guests will use the space and how you can direct guests by changing the layout, such as creating walkways, private seating areas, areas for presentations and divisions to break up the room. Even if the room will have a simple setup, you can arrange the tables in different ways, such as having the tables in a circle or U-shape around a presentation or dance area or choosing to have them in rows with the attention focused on one end of the room. You might even be able to use different types of seating — such as a mix of event tables, high-top tables and couches — to create interest and different types of areas.

Focus on Color

Instead of putting your focus on certain types of decorations, you can create an amazing visual display with less effort and money if your focus is on color. This gives you a lot of leeway to fit your custom budget. When you play with a color scheme, even simple items, such as the tablecloth, become exciting. There are many ways to play

with color. Consider the linens, chair covers or ribbons, garland and various decorations. You could also use colored lighting and backdrops.

Within your entire design, you have options for customization. Think about:

bold coloring

a color pairing

pops of color within an otherwise simple room

the absence of color with a black and white theme

Create Simple Centerpieces

While centerpieces can be dramatic and expensive, they don’t have to be. In reality, the focus should be on the event and the other people at the table, so it can actually be nice for guests when big centerpieces aren’t in the way. Create simple centerpieces that are still elegant, such as these ideas:

Add a single flower or some fruit to a vase filled with water. You can add the element of color through the flower or fruit, the vase or colored water.

Make greenery bouquets, which can be gorgeous at a much lower price than flowers, or add a few small bouquets to each table. You can save by buying flowers and creating simple bouquets yourself.

Try other natural elements, such as a bowl of fruit, a large pumpkin or pine cones.

Focus on a single item as a centerpiece, such as a lantern or large candle.

Consider turning food, beverages or guest giveaways into the table centerpieces with an attractive setup. This way, you don’t have to spend extra money on separate centerpieces.

Put a Focus on the Food

Your event has to have food and beverages, and this is one of the main areas your guests are focusing on anyway. Incorporate this aspect of the event into your design scheme — in other words, make your food and beverages do double duty by turning them into visual displays. We already mentioned that some of the food and drinks could be turned into centerpieces, but you can do the same with the serving tables around the room.

See if you can have your caterer create works of art with the food by cutting and displaying fruit into flower shapes and coming up with other pretty ways to display the food. Have them play with colors and see how serving trays and tiered displays can add to the design. Desserts can pretty up a space with beautiful wrappers, canisters and the shapes and decorations on the treats themselves. Beverages can also create a gorgeous display with pretty pitchers, glasses and bottles.

Find Affordable Decorations

Whether you want to​build a theme​ around the inexpensive decorations that are available or you need affordable decorations that fit your theme, you can make the situation work. There are many ways to decorate in an affordable way. Look for bulk fabric or paper that you can use for draping, use inexpensive lights and lanterns to create hanging decorations and rely on simple balloons and candles for decoration and color. Be sure to check for bulk and out-of-season items to get a discount.

When you want to throw an amazing event with a limited budget, consider incorporating these five ideas. They can help you create a beautiful space that looks elegant and polished without putting too much of a strain on your resources. If you think creatively, you can put together an eye-catching event space that will wow your guests and add to a seamless event experience.

Lace Country looks From Ralph Lauren in Gangs of New York by Mario Testino for US Vogue February 2011

Guest Post By Jason Phillips

For most men and women, their wedding is the ultimate celebration; an event that marks the start of a new life as a family. It is the adventurous journey of a lifetime. It is important for both the bride and the groom to stay mindful when spending cash to plan a wedding. There are lots of ways to create a special, chic and memorable wedding without breaking the bank.

In 2015, the average spending for a wedding was somewhere at $32,000. That’s almost 50% of the median household income per year in the US. Costs can add up fast, depending on what you have planned. 45% of couples often spend a lot more than they initially had planned. That being said, it is important to prioritize, and focus the things that matter to you the most. Here are some great tips to help out.

ETSY Weddings

The best way to save money is to attend a designer truck show. You’ll land a bunch of discounts and with a bit of luck, you’ll find the dress you’ve always dreamed of. Careful brides know how to spot a bargain, and even though it might seem impossible, you can settle on a fabulous wedding dress without breaking your budget. Many women forget about the cash they have available for a dress, and they usually spend 2 times more than they had initially planned.

Rather than head to the closest exclusive boutique, check etsy.com first. Or, go local! There are lots of local designers trying to stand out, and their prices are extremely affordable. Many couples today hunt for convenience when planning a wedding. But they also want luxury. If the groom can’t afford a tuxedo, choose a service from where you can rent one. After the wedding, you can send it back, thus saving hundreds of dollars.

Winter Weddings

Choose a date in December for your wedding and you’ll save a lot of cash of decorations. Most venues are already decorated for Christmas, which means you won’t have to spend anything extra. Consider adoring the venue with floral arrangements that are in season. This way, you’ll avoid spending extra on peonies (in winter, they are 5 times more expensive than the conventional roses). Settle on one, maximum two types of flowers. Fill the rest of the venue with greenery, such as pine cones. For an extra touch of originality, go for non-floral ornaments such as lanterns and candles, and you’ll save even more.

ONLINE Stationery

The stationery is a fundamental part of any wedding, and many couples have difficulties sending invitations. To keep your budget in check, go for paper invites. Hunt for convenient price packages online, and decide in advance. Make sure the design is simple but stylish. Minimalistic wedding invitations are in trend. Plain white enveloped rather than colored ones are the best. To save some more cash, it might be a good idea to print your own stationery. Or, go digital on your stationery as there are many companies and websites that offer amazing e-cards.

Planning out that special day can be both beautiful and stressful; everything needs to be perfect. It is an once-in-a-lifetime event that both you and your significant other will remember forever, so it’s important that everything happens exactly how you planned it and not overlook anything since it’s easy to get lost in the details. Whatever your plan is about the guests, the venue or the ceremony itself is sure to take any situation into consideration and think about what might be missing. While you’re doing that, let’s take a look at some pointers on how to avoid any potential disasters at your wedding.

Have a checklist in place

Having a properly crafted checklist is a sure way to avoid forgetting anything. Sit with your partner and try to think of the entire wedding process, start to finish. Put everything on paper and then start breaking it down; what do you need for every one of them? Start working your way down the list and checking things off as you are done with them. Organizing and tracking everything that you do is the easiest way to make sure nothing gets left out of the wedding. However insignificant it seems, it will bug you later.

It’s easy to lose track of sleeping and eating since the big day is coming. How does fainting on your wedding day sound? Try avoiding it by making regular breaks and eating properly; it’s stressful, but it shouldn’t be damaging to you. After all, it’s something you’re both looking forward to. Make sure you shine bright by being well rested.

Hire a pro

These days, there are many agencies and managers that would gladly offer a hand in handling your wedding day preparations if you leave it up to them. This could be a good idea if you don’t have any management skills or a friend that’s good at improvising; hiring help is nothing to be ashamed of, after all, it’s their job to make sure everything goes according to your desires.

The outfit

Make sure you’ve decided on what both of you are going to wear well before the wedding day. Whatever you decide on, you need to be sure that it’s comfortable enough to spend an entire day in, since it’s not unheard of that clothes don’t fit properly and today’s the day that they should fit perfectly. Wear your wedding dress or suit around the house a few times before the ceremony to make sure it grows on you a bit and loosens up. It feels bad if you have to change clothes in the middle of the wedding day just because you can’t stand it anymore.

Choosing a venue that doesn’t fit your demands and expectations can ruin your big day. Before making a decision, you might want to explore more options. Your theme should be attentively laid out as well. Vintage-inspired weddings demand a specific theme. Cottages and houses to rent in Suffolk or vineyards are excellent locations. The right cottage decorated in a personal style will definitely live up to your expectations. When deciding on the location, it’s equally important to check the surrounding area. A vineyard is the perfect background for your photos.

Don’t stress over the small things

Every couple craves after the perfect wedding. However, you shouldn’t expect perfection. To avoid a disaster, you might want to keep your cool. Is the cake different than what you initially ordered? Are the decorations not enough? Is the venue overly accessorized? Regardless of your issue, know this: everything can be fixed in due time if you remain calm and patient. Ask your bridesmaids to help you out, or better yet call a wedding planner.

Enjoy it

Try to remember the reason this day exists; so that you and your significant other can officially start a new life together. Whatever may or may not happen during the wedding, try to laugh it off with friends and family, because it can’t be as bad as it seems at first. A wedding should be something you’re enjoying to the fullest, and having a big smile on your face and radiating with energy can make any occasional awkward situation seem that much brighter.

Every once in a while I come across a great jewelry seller on ebay or amazon and I feel like I hit the jackpot. Ever Faith Jewelry produces those high end looks for less. The next time you are looking in your closet, and find yourself wanting to try some new looks, think of putting on a dramatic ring, like the sapphire beauty- to the left. Pair a bold necklace with a solid colored suit or a simple linen dress shirt, and leave it unbuttoned a few notches. Or, the next time your going out to dinner with the girls on Saturday night, and need something that looks radiant against your glowing skin, pick out some earrings that pick up the light.

Jewelry can be that change you need when your outfits get a bit boring, or it seems like you have worn everything in your closet multiple times. Go chic with a plain black suit, and a heavy necklace. Go colorful with prints and pair it with a cushion cut canary earring. Add richness to your outfits by wearing gold chains.

Check out my picks in the gallery section at the bottom of the article from Ever Faith.

Hello! If you love looking through wedding ideas, you might enjoy the stuff I pin. I love 18th century style and all things romantic! If you like it, follow me* Lots of love! Meranda https://www.pinterest.com/merandadevan/

Find your name and replace it with a polaroid picture of yourself- Get the idea fromtheweddingscoop.com

A wedding can cost a huge amount of money; current studies estimate that the average wedding costs approximately $25,000. For many people this amount of money is simply too much to either afford or justify, particularly as this can be a deposit for a house. The latest trend is to start looking outside the box, to think of new and inventive ways of getting the wedding you want without blowing your budget.

Off-Season vs. In-Season wedding

If you wish to have your wedding between November and April you will be able to take advantage of the lower rates which most hotels and wedding venues offer during the quieter time of year. Many wedding venues and churches are already decorated during the holiday season ready for the relevant celebration. If you choose to get married during the holiday season you will be able to benefit from the decorations in these venues without having to pay out for them.

Consider an early wedding ceremony

You may be surprised to find out how much you can save by having your wedding early in the day. Instead of a wedding dinner, have a wedding brunch; the cost is dramatically less and you can still party all day and night!

Keep it together

You will save on decorating costs, room hire and transport if you have your wedding ceremony and the reception at the same place. Your guests may even find it easier as they can start celebrating straight away without worrying about driving later.

Skip the traditional venue and look for somewhere that people do not normally consider getting married. An outside venue can be a popular choice and may even be free! Nature’s beauty can be the perfect backdrop for your ceremony.

The Dress

To save money on your dress you can look at second hand options or you can choose to select a dress and request for a reduction by paying in full upfront. Alternatively it is possible to purchase a dress straight from the rack. It is even possible to buy the right dress from a high street store. It is essential to consider what you really need and look at what it is possible to use or adapt.

There are many items for your wedding which can be made on your own. Invitations and the decorations can be hand-made, not only will they be significantly cheaper they will also be personal, unique and can be tied into any theme you choose. Of course, it is possible to spend more on creating your own invites and you should carefully consider the costs and time it will take before embarking on this option.

Make it your own

Just because there is something, such as the three tier wedding cake, which is a traditional part of the wedding; does not mean it has to be in your wedding. It is your special day and you should choose only the parts you want to be I it; this will save you money.

Discount sites

There are several discount sites which will offer a healthy reduction on some of the items you need for your wedding. You should also consider purchasing items from brides who have finished with them; the articles will be heavily discounted.

Duplicate

The cost of table decorations and gifts and even the wedding favors can be significant. However, by choosing the right piece it is possible to use one item to do all three jobs. Absolutely anything can be used which fits your needs and desires.

Haggle

The best way to save money on your wedding is to haggle on every part of your wedding. No matter whether it is the venue or the dress; it is possible to get a discount or to even barter for a better deal. You may be surprised at how successful this can be!

Whether you’re getting married in an amazing Suffolk wedding venue or you’ve decided to organize everything in your backyard, just don’t forget to have fun. It’s the happiest day of your life, so you might as well enjoy it to the fullest. And if you can save a little money along the way why not do it?